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Maggie Go Home Dispatch/Sunday News |
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York Dispatch |
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While it's not uncommon to see crowds gathered in front of the Strand-Capitol Performing Arts Center, the flag waving and chanting was a departure. |
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International social protest came to York last night as about 40 Irish-American activists from around the state and up and down the East Coast spoke out against an appearance by former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. |
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"Maggie Go Home!," they shouted, over the wail of a bagpipe, "Maggie, Maggie, you can't hide! We charge you with genocide!" |
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Thatcher spoke as a part of the Junior League of York's "In The Spotlight" speaker series. |
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Ed McGinley, national director of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, an organization that promotes Irish heritage, said protesters object to Thatcher's policies concerning Ireland, and her treatment of Irish prisoners, during her time in office. |
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"(Thatcher is) protested almost every place she goes. We don't ever let her alone," he said. |
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Activist were particularly incensed that she was speaking two days after the 16th anniversary of the death of Irish activist Bobby Sands, who died after a long hunger strike. |
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"It's ironic she should be here May 7," said Bob Scruggs of Harrisburg, a member of the Dauphin County order of the Hibernians, known as the Bobby Sands Division. "We feel a special affinity to him." |
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Thatcher never near: Thatcher was ushered into the back of the theater and never came close to the protesters. She never mentioned the protest in her speech. |
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Jane Lyter, outgoing president of the Junior League of York, would only comment that Thatcher had been selected as an "educational and cultural opportunity," adding that she had not personally seen the protest. |
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The protesters arrived at the front of the Yorktowne Hotel, where Thatcher was having dinner with supporters, around 6 p.m., then adjourned about 10 minutes later to the Strand. |
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"She has blood on her hands," said Greta Scruggs, a native of Belfast now living in Duncannon, holding a sign that said "Brits out! Ireland's For The Irish!" |
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There were several York City Police officers standing outside the theater, a presence that would have existed with or without the protesters, said police commissioner Herbert Grofcsik. |
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"We have a guest in our city and we want to make sure she's OK", said Grofcsik, who added that while the department did not expect any problems, "we're ready." |
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Protesters lined the sidewalk in front of the theater, behind yellow barricades, occasionally stepping into the street to wave a sign at a passing car, or turning to shout to ticket holders making their way into the building. |
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"Check your conscience at the door!" shouted Charlie Shields of Harrisburg. |
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"She's a murdering b----!" someone else yelled. |
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"No cursing," McGinley said, "...Even though she is." |
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None of the people headed inside for the speech confronted the protesters; most averted their eyes and kept walking, while others stood away from the action and looked from a distance. |
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"It's a disgrace": "I think it's a shame that someone comes from a foreign country, and comes over here, to have to put up with this kind of nuisance," said ticket holder Don Baker, of Emigsville. |
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"I think it's an embarrassment to the American people. It's a disgrace." |
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Shields defended the group's right to peacefully protest to remind Thatcher of their displeasure with her role as prime minister. |
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"She certainly has the right to speak in the United States, and she's been invited by the Junior League," said Charlie Shields of Harrisburg. |
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"But just as she's entitled to speak, we're entitled to express our opinion." |
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The protesters left after the last of the ticket holders filtered into the theater. |
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McGinley said he was "very impressed" with the response in Central Pennsylvania to the protest. |
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"It's good to see this kind of feeling. That's part of why we're here, to educate," he said. |
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The other part of why they were there, McGinley said, is simply as a reminder to Thatcher. |
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"No matter where she goes," he said, "we'll be there." |
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The York Dispatch |